Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Panek Vineyard 2016

98 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard is another brilliant wine that has full-bodied richness and power, yet still glides across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Notes of cassis, dark chocolate, cold steel, and some bloody, meaty, iron notes all emerge from the glass, and it changes and develops beautifully with air. A wine of incredible purity and complexity, it’s a thrill a minute today yet has the capacity to evolve for 2+ decades. The entire lineup from Rivers Marie is stunning across the board and readers really can’t go wrong here. Drink: 2019-2039. (1/31/19)"

95+ points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "Rivers-Marie works with five acres of the Panek Vineyard, with the clonal mix of 169, 7, 4 and 6. Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose of the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard reveals pronounced notes of crushed red and black currants, Morello cherries and baker’s chocolate with hints of eucalyptus, salami, tapenade and violets. Full-bodied, rich and wonderfully concentrated, with a firm, grainy texture and layer upon layer of black fruit and savory nuances, it finishes with fantastic persistence. 300 cases were produced. (Jul 2019)"

95 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard has turned out beautifully. There is a sense of energy to the red cherry and plum fruit that gives this wine a natural measure of pure excitement. Red cherry jam, raspberry preserves, mint, spice and pomegranate meld together in a racy, sensual Cabernet that captures all the best vintage has to offer. Two thousand sixteen is a terrific vintage for the Panek. Drink: 2021-2031. (Dec 2018)"